<b>Yao mania</b> The Rockets got a taste of where they started and how far they have come Saturday, going from the most stark of gymnasiums to most hysterical of fan reactions in a few hours. They practiced in a small University of San Francisco gym with seats folded back into the walls, no air conditioning or signs of any kind an NBA team might ever visit. They then boarded a bus to Sacramento, then stopped -- like a high school team -- along the way for hamburgers. But on their stop at an In 'N Out Burger in Pinole, Calif., they were reminded they are not another anonymous high school team. The customers and staff in the restaurant began chanting "Yao Ming, Yao Ming." The crowd stopped eating. The staff stopped working. The team, and particularly Yao, was mobbed with autograph and photograph requests until Yao had to eat in the bus. "It was nuts," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. "We walked in. The place just went nuts. It got so bad, he had to go out to the bus. Colin (Pine, Yao's translator) had to bring him his food. "They couldn't function. It was a pretty good Saturday afternoon crowd. But in five minutes, it turned into a Backstreet Boys concert, or something. Crazy." Travel issues The NBA is continuing to work on scheduling preseason games for the Rockets in Beijing and Shanghai next season, and other international games, despite issues about international travel during the U.S. invasion of Iraq, NBA officials said Friday. "It's still premature to make a decision," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said. "We'll continue to work on it. It's still something we want to do. We're going forward, business as usual." Major League Baseball canceled planned games in Japan this month. But NBA commissioner David Stern, speaking in Detroit this week, said plans will continue, but are subject to developments over the ensuring months. "I think what you have to do is say, `Subject to world events,' " Stern said. "We are going to live our lives, but these world events are not small things. We have to determine what we are going to do. We have an active potential exhibition season around the world. We have games that we are contemplating in Asia, Latin America and Europe, as well as visitations scheduled for Africa and other places. We will have to take a look at those on an ongoing basis. Right now, we are conducting business as close to usual as we can be." -- JONATHAN FEIGEN http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/1831771
How cute!!! Well I thought basketball players ate in fancy restaurants and stuff....and had their own private airplanes and stuff... Yao is definitely famous.
In-N-Out is the best fast food burger place in the country by far...if you are ever in california eat there
cool they are probably in my hometown tonite. Sactown. Hopefully the Rockets can make this and exicting game^_^.
Was this In-N-Out full of Asian customers? Otherwise, I would have to say the Yaomania does not seem to only strike Asian community, but to large extent at least in the bay area.
IN & OUT BURGER is simply the best burger made. Me & my girlfriend go to Vegas every year, for the 8 ball championships, and that is one of our favorite places to eat in Vegas. Damn, I wish they would open some stores in Texas!! To bad they do not franchise!
Hey you could be in New Mexico like me and just have Blake's Lotaburger, a trailor trash place which has patties that slightly edge Burger King. But at least I have my green chile!
Ahhh my favorite In N' Out meal is a couple double doubles and a vanilla shake . Definitely one of the better fast food places around here but i'm not going to call it the best. The best place to get burgers is a small los angeles area family owned restaraunt called "The Hat" they have some of the _BEST_ burgers and pastrami around town. Plus when you order fries they give you a whole bag full!
What a funny article. I can't believe they started chanting "Yao Ming, Yao Ming". That's so absurd, although I would have chanted it too.
Everyone likes burgers heh? I prefer my mom's cooking. Good old Chinese food. Someday when my father retires, I'll fly my parents to China and taste the different delicacies from one province to another.
Like I said, find a Red Robin near you. There aren't many around the U.S. Eat there and be sure to order there Clucks & Fries (buffalo style)... that is the best meal I have ever eaten. Free refill on fries too! mmm
